F eminist and g ender t heories

Structural Functionalism

5
Nonrational
Rational
Figure 7.5
Connell’s Basic Concepts and Theoretical Orientation
Collective
Individual
Hegemonic
masculinity
Patriarchal
dividend

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SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY IN THE CONTEMPORARY ERA
“the patterns of conduct our society defines as masculine” (ibid.). She emphasizes not only 
that there are different types of masculinities in different cultures and periods of history, but 
also “multiple masculinities” in any particular place and time (ibid.). At the same time, 
however, Connell goes to great lengths to explain “the active construction” of masculinity 
at the level of the individual (ibid.). Connell asserts that “the hegemonic form need not be 
the most common form of masculinity,” that masculinities are not fixed, and that significant 
contradictions exist not only at the level of the collective, but at the level of the individual—
for instance, in contradictory desires (ibid.:11–13).
In terms of the question of action, as indicated previously, Connell explicitly accounts for 
both the more “rational” and “nonrational” dimensions of dominance at the level of the col-
lective (for instance, institutionalized bureaucracies, and sports and war imagery), as well 
as both the conscious and the relatively unconscious costs and benefits that accrue from the 
patriarchal dividend at the level of the individual (for instance, intricate maneuvering in peer 
groups and competitive sports). Most importantly, Connell’s theoretical multidimensionality 
is rooted not only in her comprehensive analysis of distinct sorts of variables (e.g., the 
economy, the body, media), but also in her comprehensive analysis of a single variable 
across space and time. Thus, in the essay you will read below, she maintains that the disad-
vantages to men that accrue in the current gender order are “the conditions of the advan-
tages. For instance, men cannot be the beneficiaries of women’s domestic labor and 
‘emotion work’ without many of them losing intimate connections, for instance, with young 
children” (Connell 2005:1809).
Reading
Introduction to “Change Among the Gatekeepers”
In this essay, Connell makes three pivotal points regarding gender equality in the global 
arena. First, Connell argues that men are the “gatekeepers” to equality between men and 
women in many ways—that is, they have access to resources, authority, and skills that 
may all be important in social change. The point is that men who believe in gender equal-
ity can do a great deal. Second, Connell illuminates the diversity of masculinities and 
men’s movements worldwide. For instance, on the one hand, homosexual men are mobi-
lizing in antidiscrimination campaigns, in the gay liberation movement, and in community 
responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. On the other hand, however, there are very large 
numbers of men engaged in preserving gender inequality. For instance, conservative reli-
gious organizations (Christian, Islamic, Buddhist) controlled by men sometimes com-
pletely exclude women; these organizations have often been used to oppose the 
emancipation of women. At the same time, “transnational media organizations, such as 
Rupert Murdoch’s conglomerate are equally active in promoting conservative gender 
ideology,” and “neoliberalism can function as a form of masculinity politics largely 
because of the powerful role of the state in the gender order” as well (Connell 2005:1816). 
Finally, Connell (ibid.:1803) points out that “we now have a far more sophisticated and 
detailed scientific understanding of issues about men, masculinities, and gender than ever 
before,” such that, though clearly given the diversity of masculinity politics it is unrealis-
tic to expect worldwide consensus for gender equality, it is possible that gender equality 
might someday become hegemonic among men.

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